Prospect Talent Score

Probability of Success

History

2009-10:Kyle Schempp skated for the Compuware U16 team in Michigan. In 35 games he scored 5 goals with 16 assists and 32 penalty minutes.

2010-11: Schempp was the leading goal-scorer for the Compuware U18 major midget team — scoring 21 goals in 40 games — and had 9 assists with 16 penalty minutes. Schempp was selected by Sioux City in the ninth round (130th overall) in the 2011 USHL Entry Draft.

2011-12: Schempp skated for Traverse City in the North American Hockey League in his first season of junior hockey. In 59 games he scored 13 goals with 22 assists and was minus-2 with 29 penalty minutes. The North Stars finished third in the North Division and lost to Kalamazoo in a first-round playoff series. Schempp had 1 assist in four playoff games. In November he committed to playing college hockey at Ferris State in 2013-14.

2012-13: Schempp was one of four players to skate in all 64 games for the Sioux Falls Stampede in his first USHL season. He scored 13 goals with 28 assists and was +26 with 28 penalty minutes as the Stampede finished first in the Western Conference. Sioux Falls defeated Lincoln in the first round before falling to Fargo with both series going the full five games. Schempp had 5 assists with 2 penalty minutes and was +1 in ten playoff games.

2013-14: Schempp skated in all 43 games for Ferris State; often playing center on a line with Bulldogs’ leading scorer senior Garrett Thompson (OTT). Schempp scored 10 goals with 15 assists and was plus-10 with 12 penalty minutes as the Bulldogs finished first in the re-aligned WCHA. Ferris State received an at-large bid to the NCAA tournament after a 4-1 loss to Minnesota State in the WCHA championship game and advanced to the NCAA Midwest Regional championship game; falling in double overtime, 2-1, to North Dakota. Schempp was selected by the Islanders in the sixth round (155th overall) in the 2014 NHL Draft in his third year of draft eligibility.

2014-15: Schempp scored 10 goals for Ferris State in his sophomore season, one behind team leader Gerald Mayhew. He recorded 6 assists and had an even plus/minus with 22 penalty minutes in 37 games for the Bulldogs. Ferris State finished sixth in the WCHA, sweeping Bemidji State in the WCHA quarterfinals before a 4-0 shutout loss to top-ranked Minnesota State in the conference semifinals.

Talent Analysis

Schempp was drafted by the Islanders following his freshman season at Ferris State. He is strong on his skates and should continue to improve as he adds bulk during his college career. He is effective both on the power play and the penalty kill for the Bulldogs. He is productive at the college level but will need to add size and continue improving to have a chance to compete in pro hockey.

Future

Schempp is a junior at Ferris State in 2015-16. After struggling to stay above .500 last season the Bulldogs are in the thick of the race in the WCHA heading into the playoffs. Schempp is the third-leading scorer for Ferris State but has cooled after a fast start. The Islanders have a deep group of young forwards and he faces steep odds to one day earn an entry-level NHL deal with the club. He projects as a lower line forward with some scoring ability at that level.

Photo: Ferris State University goaltender C.J. Motte was a workhorse for his team in the 2013-14 season, and will likely be that again as the Bulldogs seek to defend their WCHA regular season title (courtesy of Ferris State Athletic Department)

Five of the six NCAA conferences feature a number of NHL prospects this season. Of those five, the WCHA has the fewest with 12 representing five member teams. Minnesota State-Mankato leads all WCHA teams with five prospects followed by Michigan Tech with four. Read more»

Photo: Viktor Crus Rydberg is one of several New York Islanders prospects who are expected to have big 2014-15 seasons. (courtesy of Terry Wilson/OHL Images)

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Photo: The New York Islanders picked forward Michael Dal Colle fifth overall in the 2014 NHL Draft. The Islanders used four of their seven draft picks on forwards. (courtesy of Dave Sandford/NHLI via Getty Images)

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